Final Project Roman Facts- Most Romans would farm, and the leading cause of deforestation is agriculture. They tore down forests in Britain and Gaul, so the natives could not flee into them. Grazing animals made it impossible for a forest to recover. Used lots of woods to build, from colisseum parts to ships. Public baths were kept at 130 degrees, which needed lots of wood to maintain that temperature. All the deforestation caused the depletion of soil, which hurt crops. Nobles would build massive wood palaces, which might be discarded three years later, and they wouldn't even reuse the wood. Marshlands popped up where forests were, causing Malaria. As a result of all the trees they killed, they ran out of wood for the Spanish silver mines, which required 10000 units of wood for one unit of silver. With no silver mines, no new silver was coming in. Modern Problems- One of the main problems is that loggers will (Sometimes illegally) build roads and cut down trees. Farmers will cut down and burn trees to make room for agriculture. That is called ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. The emerald ash borer is a large problem, since it kills ash trees, which is a large percentage of trees in Ohio. Like the silver mines, gold-mining is causing deforestation. Climate changes cause wildfires to occur more frequently. Modern Solution- Today we set up green spaces where people aren’t allowed to hunt or cut down trees. We also have a list of endangered species, so you aren’t allowed to destroy the habitat of these species. We have the REDD+ system. People and organizations buy acres of forests to keep people out. Paul Stamets says that mushrooms provide humus soil, which is necessary for plant life. If the Romans could rebuild humus, then the soil wouldn't be depleted, they'd get more food and wouldn't starve. We recycle materials so we don't have to cut down trees.
Expert Contacts-Holly Gibbs. University of Wisconsin at Madison. Email: hkgibbs@wisc.edu
The automated message at the NPCA call center.
Citations. Alex T."Rome, Ancient." World Book Student. World Book, 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2013. "The Role of Deforestation in the Fall of Rome." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013. "Deforestation During The Roman Period." World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
Roman Facts-
Most Romans would farm, and the leading cause of deforestation is agriculture. They tore down forests in Britain and Gaul, so the natives could not flee into them. Grazing animals made it impossible for a forest to recover. Used lots of woods to build, from colisseum parts to ships. Public baths were kept at 130 degrees, which needed lots of wood to maintain that temperature. All the deforestation caused the depletion of soil, which hurt crops. Nobles would build massive wood palaces, which might be discarded three years later, and they wouldn't even reuse the wood. Marshlands popped up where forests were, causing Malaria. As a result of all the trees they killed, they ran out of wood for the Spanish silver mines, which required 10000 units of wood for one unit of silver. With no silver mines, no new silver was coming in.
Modern Problems-
One of the main problems is that loggers will (Sometimes illegally) build roads and cut down trees. Farmers will cut down and burn trees to make room for agriculture. That is called ‘slash and burn’ agriculture. The emerald ash borer is a large problem, since it kills ash trees, which is a large percentage of trees in Ohio. Like the silver mines, gold-mining is causing deforestation. Climate changes cause wildfires to occur more frequently.
Modern Solution-
Today we set up green spaces where people aren’t allowed to hunt or cut down trees. We also have a list of endangered species, so you aren’t allowed to destroy the habitat of these species. We have the REDD+ system. People and organizations buy acres of forests to keep people out. Paul Stamets says that mushrooms provide humus soil, which is necessary for plant life. If the Romans could rebuild humus, then the soil wouldn't be depleted, they'd get more food and wouldn't starve. We recycle materials so we don't have to cut down trees.
Expert Contacts-Holly Gibbs. University of Wisconsin at Madison. Email:
hkgibbs@wisc.edu
The automated message at the NPCA call center.
Citations.
Alex T."Rome, Ancient." World Book Student. World Book, 2013. Web. 14 Jan. 2013.
"The Role of Deforestation in the Fall of Rome." BBC News. BBC, n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.
"Deforestation During The Roman Period." World News. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Jan. 2013.